Opinion
72945.
DECIDED SEPTEMBER 5, 1986.
Action for damages. Cobb Superior Court. Before Judge White.
R. David Ware, for appellant.
Michael G. Frick, Brynda S. Rodriguez, for appellee.
Sandra Chambers brought suit against the Gap Stores, Inc., seeking damages for alleged slanderous or defamatory statements made about her by employees of the Gap. The trial court granted the Gap's motion for summary judgment and Chambers appeals.
Appellant contends questions of fact exist as to appellee's liability for remarks allegedly made by several employees of appellee imputing to appellant various crimes punishable by law. The employees in question submitted affidavits which, in addition to denying the utterance of the alleged statements, asserted that at no time were they authorized by appellee to make the defamatory or opprobrious remarks which are the subject of this litigation. It is well established as a matter of Georgia law that "`a corporation is not liable for the slanderous utterances of an agent acting within the scope of his employment, unless it affirmatively appears that the agent was expressly directed or authorized to slander the plaintiff. [Cit.]' [Cits.]" Anderson v. Housing Auth. of Atlanta, 171 Ga. App. 841, 843 (2) ( 321 S.E.2d 378) (1984). See also Life Chiropractic College v. Fuchs, 176 Ga. App. 606, 609 (5) ( 337 S.E.2d 45) (1985). Appellant's statement in her affidavit that she "believes" the utterances allegedly made by appellee's employees were made with appellee's approval presents nothing of probative value for consideration on motion for summary judgment. OCGA § 9-11-56 (e); see generally Freeman v. Pumpco, 167 Ga. App. 312, 313 ( 306 S.E.2d 385) (1983). Therefore, the trial court correctly granted summary judgment to appellee. See generally Mewbourn v. Harris, 162 Ga. App. 102, 103 ( 290 S.E.2d 315) (1982).
Judgment affirmed. Banke, C. J., and Birdsong, P. J., concur.